Comments on Five Hole Fanatics: Sutter inks four

At the risk of looking TOO far ahead, next ...

2008-06-29T11:43:00.000-06:00

At the risk of looking TOO far ahead, next summer looks quiet for the Flames. Assuming this years' free agents will sign multi-year deals, the only real UFAs the Flames are going to have going into 09-10 are Aucoin and Cammalleri. If Cammy has a good year, and Aucoin has a bad one, then most of that money just slides over. Of course it depends on if any short term rentals arrive at the trade deadline this year, but this summer's FA signing might be the last opportunity to really change the team for the next couple of years. Good or Bad the Flames are really starting to be set in cement.

P.S. I guess if Primeau is outstandingly bad he might be bought out next summer too.

By the way, we're totally getting juiced back home...

2008-06-29T11:31:00.000-06:00

By the way, we're totally getting juiced back home on NHL gear...I'm in Philly right now, and a $30 t-shirt back home costs...$10 here.

Rob "Verbal Poet" Kerr has a report on the length ...

2008-06-29T11:30:00.000-06:00

Rob "Verbal Poet" Kerr has a report on the length of the contracts

Langkow - 4 years (so if we go with Sutter's Puzzles of Disclosure, that means he WASN'T signed for 5 mil per - nice)

Conroy - 2 years
Nystrom - 2 years
McElhinney - 1 year

http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/robkerr/2008/06/27/flames-sign-4/

Kind of sad to see Warrener go out like this, but ...

2008-06-28T13:18:00.000-06:00

Kind of sad to see Warrener go out like this, but if hockey was only for good guys then Andrew Ference would be a shoo-in hall of famer. Warrener: three times in the Cup finals, three different teams, three time loser!

Heard Sutter on TV tonight (TSN or Sportsnet?) say...

2008-06-28T01:36:00.000-06:00

Heard Sutter on TV tonight (TSN or Sportsnet?) saying the Flames would have veteran leadership at centre and youth on the wings. I take that to mean Primeau as fourth line centre (shudder). I guess MG, your hunch was right, maybe they'll try and play Boyd on the wing.

Yay for transparency!

2008-06-28T01:00:00.000-06:00

Yay for transparency!

Hey, Flames don't release figures, Oilers don't...

2008-06-27T15:51:00.000-06:00
Hey, Flames don't release figures, Oilers don't even release who they qualify!!

Calgary hasn't done this either. I believe guys like Van Der Gulik and Pardy were scheduled to become RFA's this week. I assume that they've been given their qualifying offers but haven't heard anything from head office.

I'm with Joe, don't mind that Conny is back but de...

2008-06-27T14:52:00.000-06:00
I'm with Joe, don't mind that Conny is back but depends on his figures. $1 million sounds about right, maybe $1.5.

Hey, Flames don't release figures, Oilers don't even release who they qualify!!

Yeah, everything depends on dollar amounts. I hate...

2008-06-27T14:19:00.000-06:00
Yeah, everything depends on dollar amounts. I hate how this organization insists on "not releasing figures as per club policy". For Christ sake guys, the terms eventually get released through other means anyways!

As for Boyd, I have a sneaking suspicion he's going to be moved to the wing this year. Unless he centers the 4th line with Wayne "1.4M worth of not-a-whole-lot" Primeau on the 4th unit. Which would suck. The kid needs some ice-time with guys that can play with him in order to progress.

Yeah, a little surprised Conroy is back and wonder...

2008-06-27T14:13:00.000-06:00
Yeah, a little surprised Conroy is back and wondering at what price; it isn't the cost its the value, right? If he's playing at 1.5 fine, if its 2.5 that's no good. It does bump down Boyd on the depth chart though, now behind Langkow,Lombo, and Conroy. Just more reason to cut loose Primeau. Got no real problems with Nystrom and McE, I'm assuming those guys are going to get pro forma raises.